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US Approves ATACMS Missile Use by Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict
The United States has officially sanctioned the deployment of ATACMS missiles by Ukraine to target locations within Russian territory, marking a momentous shift in American foreign policy. This decision has raised significant tensions, with Russia warning that such actions will provoke a severe and direct response.
According to a statement from Russia’s foreign ministry, employing US long-range missiles in Ukraine’s offensives would signify the United States and its allies’ direct engagement in the conflict against Russia. President Joe Biden’s approval comes as the war nears its one-thousandth day, with evidence suggesting a stalemate on the battlefield.
Previously, Ukraine was equipped with ATACMS missiles, which boast a range of approximately 300 kilometers (about 190 miles), along with similar range Storm Shadow missiles provided by France and the UK. However, Western nations had enforced a restriction against striking Russian soil. The lifting of this limitation by Biden is seen as a pivotal development, especially amidst recent escalated attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure by Russian forces.
In recent weeks, reports indicated a boost in Russian military activity, including the arrival of over 10,000 North Korean troops into the Kursk region. Unverified sources suggest North Korea may augment its support for Russia by deploying as many as 100,000 soldiers, alongside artillery and other military equipment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at a subtle approach regarding the US missile deal, suggesting that the actions of the missiles themselves would serve as a strong message. Some analysts speculate that Ukraine may initially deploy the ATACMS in the Kursk area as a strategic response to North Korean assistance to Russia, potentially signaling a warning to both North Korea and Moscow.
In the West, Biden’s decision is interpreted as a signal to President Vladimir Putin, communicating that a military victory in Ukraine is unattainable. The United States has indicated that it would respond adequately to the involvement of North Korean forces and the increase in Russian aerial assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure.
The recent days have seen a troubling escalation in violence, with intense strikes aimed at Ukraine’s power grid resulting in widespread blackouts and casualties. In Odesa, a Russian missile strike tragically killed ten individuals and injured approximately fifty others.
As Donald Trump prepares to take office again in January, he has not publicly addressed Biden’s authorization of ATACMS use. Trump, who won the election on November 5, has previously promised to terminate US involvement in foreign conflicts and focus on domestic issues, indicating he would aim for a rapid resolution to the Ukraine war. Zelensky acknowledges that Trump may press for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and hopes for a peace agreement can be reached within the coming year.
As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the implications of the United States’ decisions and evolving military strategies remain critical not only for the involved nations but also for the broader international community.
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www.bbc.com